Automatic graphophone stop



Jan. 13, 1925.

C. C. BROOKS ET AL AUTOMATIC GRAPHOPHONE sToP Filed Oct. 14, 1922 akboznaabd Jan. 13, 1925. 1,522,997

C. C. BROOKS ET AL AUTOMATI C GRAPHOPHONE STOP Filed OCC. 14 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan, 13, 1925,

UNEF@ STAT CLIFFORD C. BROOKS AND EDWIN 0. KLEMM. OF

FENTON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNO-RS TO KLEIVIM MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF FENTON, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

AUTOMATIC GRAPHOPHONE STOP.

Application filed October 14, 1922. Serial No. 594,610.

To all whom, t may concern.'

Be it known that CLIFFORD C. BROOKS and EDWIN C. KLEMM, citizens of the United States, residing at Fenton, in the county of Genesee and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Graphophone Stops, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates in general to a control device for phonographs and like machines, and more particularly to a novel mechanism whereby the operation of the phonograph may be automatically stopped when the reproducer reaches the end of the record, or any other predetermined point upon the record which may be selected by the operator.

Quite a number of phonograph stop devices have been developed, although they are largely open to the objection that it is dil'ificult or impossible to set them with any degree of accuracy, the common complaint being that the automat-ic stop either functions` too soon or too late or not at all. 1With many of the stops the construction is such 'that in the preliminary setting of the device the tone arm must be'moved in a certain particular direction, and the instructions frequently specify that the reproducer shall be moved a number of grooves beyond the point where it is desired Vto stop the playing of the machine. These are all features which tend to result in confusion on the part of the operator and inaccuracy in the operation of the stop.

With the` foregoing considerations in view one of the objects of the present invention has been to provide a phonograph stop which embodies novel features of construction whereby it can be accurately set with ease and facility, and in which it isnot necessary to move the tone arm in some particular direction whensetting the device preparatory to rendition of the record.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a device of this character, which is extremely simple and inexpensive in its construction, which can be applied Without ditliculty to any of the conventional types of phonographs now found upon the market, and which is positive and dependable in its action.

Vhile certain particular embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described for the purpose of explaining the idea, it will be understood that numerous modifications and changes are possible in the details of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention.

For a full understanding of the invention reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a plan view of a fragmentary portion of a phonograph with one of the automatic stop devices applied thereto, portions being broken away and shown in section.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the parts shown by Figure l, the detent and brake member being shown by full lines in inoperative position and by dotted lines in operative position.

Figures 3 and 4 are detail views illustrating a modification which is adapted to be used for controlling electrically driven machines.

Figure 5 is a side elevation showing one of the devices as applied to a Victor type of tone arm, the brake member being shown in operative position by full lines and in inoperative position by dotted lines.

Figure 6 is a perspective view showing a' modification in which a gravity controlled brake operating lever is utilized.

Figures 7 and 8 are detail views showing different forms of pivotal connections between the trip arm and the bracket at the base of the tone arm.

Figure 9 is a detail view illustrating a modied form of detent member.--`

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description, and illustrated on all of the views of the drawings by like reference characters.

The embodiments of the present invention which have been shown for illustrative purposes can be applied as an attachment to many of the conventional types ofvphono graphs which are now upon the market, the invention being illustrated by Figures l and 2 as utilized in connection with tone arms which are known as the Columbia type and have a Vuniversal movement .at their base,

while on Figure the device is shown as applied to a phonograph having a. tone arm ot the Victor type. y v

Reterringi` to Figures l and 2 of the drawings, the reterence character A designates a tone ariii which ha.` the conventional universal jointBwat its base so that it is adapted to swingl both horizontally and up and down. A conventional reproducer C is mounted upon the swingingY end ot the tone ariii,y said reproducer carrying the usual needle which is adapted to operate within the grooves ot the record D. The turn table E which earriesthe record is mounted upona spindle F and maybe drivenin any suitable'iiianner,

either by a spring motorv or by an electric unotor. vThe'topof the phonograph is illustrated .at G. and welllknown construction and no cla-iin to novelty .is based thereon.

'f The n-uni-era-l l designates a control lever, .which is provided with pivot members i2, b v means of which it is mounted upon upstanding` ears 3 projecting i'iroin a base :plate A, rThe control'lever may be Aconveniently formed from ar plate stamped troni sheet niaterial of asuitable'gauge1 and the-portion ot the lever which is provided with the pivot members 2 is preferably widened sothat .the pivotnieinbersare an appreciable distanceapart. This tends to'preixent lateral kplayer movement ot the control lever. and is conducive to accuracy in the operation of the device.

cabinet, and it may beise'cured in position in- `Vany suitable manner as by means` ot theV i screws 5. The inner end ot ythe control lever lterminates ina comparatively thin arm it which isreturned upwardly and carries a 4'brake yshoe iwhioh is adapted to. engage the bottom o't' theturn tabletlil. The returned arm preferably extends outwardly beyondV the 'axis ofthe/lever, so. that the brake shoeV r(ii's -inoved upwardly into operative engagement with the :turn table wheiitlieouter end --o'lithe` control lever is swungupwardly, and

'iis correspondingly;swungV downwardly to re- -tlease the Ytiii'ntable when the outer end ot the control lever isV swungdownwardly.

'itheouter eind ot tlieeontrol lever is providedV with Aan vupstandingl wing' or deteiit i',

A which is transversely disposedfwith respee ,"to 'the levei,said `deteiit member being;` pro@ `wided Kat 'its `top l`with a ridinggedge .7 vand Y with a noltch 8 at `one endot the riding edge, `V`a--fstop arm "9 projecting upwardly at the ledge.

' 111 which is out 1trom `one edge of the base This is all of the conventional The base plate el is adapted to l be mounted on. the top G of theV phonograph `nec'tionhetiveen the members. 4.connection maybe accoii'iplislied in many plate 4; and bent upwardly therefrom, This is preferably a light spring and one which has just sutlicient strength to apply the brake in the necessaryinanner tostopthe machine when the control lever is released.

Cooperatingl with the riding edgev 7 and notch S ot the detentnieinber7 is aitripzarn'i l2, which iscar-ried `byaiid movable withY the tone arm, said trip armbe-ingadapted to trictionally engage and ride upon the edge T ol the detent member and to Aenter the Anotch S of the detent member when it is brought into registry therewith. lThe width ot the trip y.ai-1n corresponds accurately lwith the width-ot' then-otch S, so that'there is piacticallyno laterallplay when the arm is received withinkthe notch. Q In other wor-ds., the arm has=what may be term-ed a sliding lit within the notch, and, as will be hereinafter explained, this is `conducive to great accu racy in Athe preliminary setting ofthe stop device. The trip Karin .is carriedby a bracket s l', which .is securedto one .side ot the tone .arm A at the base thereof. rlhis bracket is illustrated as having` an L shaped formationv` arin .by` a 'suitable fastening member le..

pendent `movementwhen asu'flicient amount attore@ is applied thereto 'to overcomethe "lfi'ictional Vengagement between vthe tripA arm .and tliebracket.k In this n'iannerprovision is made torthezinitial set-ting` of the stop device. i

Theftri'p `arfmlQ is'sho'wn as having the pivot end thereof :returned at l2, said rcturnedportion embracing` the outstanding arm ot 'the biaclretil andhaving` an roherentresiliency which assists iii obtainingthe desired frictional :contact `Vat 'the pivotal con- This 'pivotal ldi fterent ways,^a1id'i?or 'illustrative purposesn two satisfactory' 'lioi'iris of ypivot joints are show-irby *Figures `T and 8. nigure 8 a scr-ew listhreaded in thereturiied arm 12' ot' the` trip member and provided at its inner end with a recess to receive aball i6 which lis in 'turnfsezrted-'witliin-a correspondin,el re-v cess in "the ybracket llfl. The-resiliency ot the `returned arin 12 enables `the screw 'to be tightened'toobtain the desired trictional engagement `-at /the pivotal Aconnection ot `the aparts, land a jam nut 17 can :then be'screwed down-tolock 3the' parts 'in an'adjusted posi tion. A slightly 'diderent Vconstruction ien illustrated *by Figure, `in `which the screw` l15@terniiin'ates in a trusto conical end ,which engages a 1flaredseat in Vthebiaclte't 13 and cooperates ther-ew ith tolpi'otliiee the desired trietional engagement `between thefpartsfl The trip arm thus swings normally with the Vtone arm, although it is susceptible of being moved independently thereof in the preliminary setting ofthe mechanism.

When preliminarily setting the device the trip arm 12 is engaged in the notch 8 and the tone arm then moved until the reproducer is at that point-on the record where it is desired to stop the phonograph and discontinue operation thereof. Owing te the fact that the arm 12 has a sliding tit in the notch 8, it will be obvious that `the tone arm can be moved in either direction when making this ,preliminary adjustment, since it is immaterial which side of the notch is engaged by the trip 12, and there is not an appreciable amount of play of the trip member within the notch. vWhen the trip 12 is positioned within the notch the control lever 1 is swung into operative position by the action of the spring 10, thereby holding the brake shoe in engagement with the turn table. After this preliminary adjustment the tone arm is lifted and moved to its starting point upon the record. Then the tone arm is lowered to bring the reprodueer into operative engagement with the record the trip member 12 engages the riding edge 7a of the detent member 7 and bears downwardly thereon, to swing the control lever against the action of the spring 10 and disengage the brake shoe from the turn table. This sets the machine in operation and the trip arm remains in a sliding engagement with the riding edge and cooperates therewith to hold the control lever in inoperative position until the reproducer reaches that pointron the record. at which the mechanism has been set to discontinue the operation of the machine. The trip arm 12 is then in registry with the notch 8 and the control lever 1 is immediately actuated by the. spring` 10 to bring the brake shoe 6 into engagement with the turn tableV and stop the machine Vin the' well known manner. vShould it be desired to discontinue playingof the machine before the stopping point has been reached, this result vcan be readily accomplished by lifting the tone arm and swinging it outwardly away from the detentvmember 7. preferably curved and segmental in shape, as shown. Owing to the fact that the trip arm is carried by one side of the tone arm,

.it has a substantially longitudinal movement through the notch 8 when initially' setting the device, and the lateral or side stresses are reduced to Va minimum, all of which it Iwillbe 'readily understood is conducive to obtaining` an accurate and positive operation of the mechanism.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate an arrangement which can be used when applying the control device as an attachment to Aelectrically driven machines. The brake shoe is,

Theu detent member 7 is of course, eliminated, and the control lever is provided with a contact arm 16a which is arranged for engagement with a contact member 17 to close the circuit through the electric motor when the control lever is moved against the action of the spring 10. The contactar-m 16a and contact point 1721 are suitably insulated, as indicated at 18, and connected to the electric wires 19. The spring 10 normally tends to swing the control lever 1 upwardly and disengage the contact elements, thereby opening the motor circuit. The motor is thus inoperative at all times except when the control lever 1 is swung downwardly against the action of the spring 10. The manner of setting the de vice is exactly as previously described, and it will be obvious that the motor circuit will be closed as long as the trip arm 12 is in engagement with the riding edge 7a of the detent member 7, although the control lever will be swung to open the circuit and stop the motor as soon as the trip arm is brought into registry with the notch 8.

On Figure 5 the invention is shown as applied to a tone arm A of the Victor type. The construction and manner of mounting of the different parts of the control device is exactlv as previously described, although the control lever 1 is shown as provided with a finger piece 2,0 which is secured to an ear 21 at the upper edgeof the detent member T. and. extends across the top of the record in a position substantially parallel to and under the tone arm. The finger piece eX-'H tends beyond the axis of the control lever. so that when the end of the finger piece is swung upwardly the parts assume the dotted line` position indicated by Figure 5 and the bralie shoe is moved into inoperative position. The llinger piece 2O is arranged in such a manner that the extremity thereof can be readily engaged by one of the fingers of the hand with which the reproducer is grasped to move the same into operative position when starting to play a record. This arrangement enables the entire mechanism to be controlled. by a single hand. If desired, a second brake shoe 22 may bc suitably mounted upon the outer end of thc' control V.lever 1 and arranged to engage the periphery of the turn table E. The two brakeshoes 6 and 22 may either be used together or either to the brake shoes may be used independently of the other, any one" of the several arrangements being susceptible of producing the desiredcresult.

A slight modification is shown by Figure 6, in which the liralre shoe is adapted to be applied by gravity` and the use of a separate element. such as the spring 10 to apply the bralte` is avoided; The control lever 1c is pivota-lly mounted upon the base plate 4:, as previously described, although thearm which carries the brake shoe 6 is not returned but isfextended inthe plane of the `upon and trictionally engages the trip arm l,2,theieby cooperating With the trip arm to hold the control lever in inoperative position. its soon as the reproducer needle has reached the predetermined point upon the record Where it is desired to stop the machine the notch 8 is brought into registry ivith the trip arm l2. ivith the result that the-outer end ot the control lever l drops doivn by gravity, thereby causing the trip farm to ente-r the notch and the brake shoe Vto be applied. The preliminarv setting of the device is accomplished substantially as `previoiisly described, and a finger piece C maybe provided for convenience in manipulating the parts when initially setting the stop. The linger piece extends over the top of `the recordand under the tone arm, so that it can be readily engaged by one ot' the ftin'gers ot the hand which is used Jfor bringingthe reproducer into proper cooperative engagement with the record.

A "Further slight modification is shown by AFigure 9, in which the construction is subi stantially the same as that shown by FigureV 15." with the exception that the notch 8b is flared downwardly and has a restricted inoiitli which corresponds substantiallyv in width to the ividth ot' the trip arm. VThis construction ot the notch will cause the trip device to be substantially self setting upon depressing the brake when the 'device is used inconnection ivith a tone arm ot the Victor type. i A

This automatic stop device, while very simple in its construction, has the advantage ot being extremely accurate in its operation and of enabling the trip device to be set by a movement ot the tone arm in either direction. It is not necessary for-the oper-ator to remember thaty the tone arm must be moved in some special direction when initially setting the device, and neither is it vnecessary 'tor the operator to learn to setV the needle a teiv grooves inivard or ahead ot the exact stopping point desired, depending upon the peciila-rities of the particular stop involved. The arrangement ot the trip' arm whereby it is pivotally mounted at one side ot the tone arm has the advantage of en- `abling the pivot point of the trip arm to.

be removed suiiiciently far trom the detent device so that there is only a slight varia- :tion of the angular relation between the tivo members, and this is a lfeature 'Which is Y conducive'toaccuracy inthe operation Vot' the stopdevice. `lt will also be understood that if it is desired to stop the machine ivlii'ie a record is playing and before the predetermined stopping point Vhas beenV reached, .it is merely necessary torthe operator to swing the tone arm beyond the turn table so that the trip linger isV moved aivay trom the riding edge of the detent device, whereupon `the brake is applied andthe turn table orrecord carrier stopped.

Having thus described our invention what ive claiin and desire toV secure by Letters Patent is,

binatioii With a record carrier and a tone arm having a ieprodiicer to traverse a record on the .record carrieigot a control lever, a bra-lie shoe mounted directly upon the control lever. a VWing carried by the control lever andi toi-med with a notch and a riding edge leading to the notch, and a trip arm to enter the notch and' permit the controlL lever to apply the braken/hen the playing 'has reached the point Wherethe device has been set to stop the mechanism.v

- 2. In a graphophone mechanism,` the combination'ivith a record carrier, and tone arm having a. reprodiicer 4to traversefa record upon the said carrier, 'of a control lever, braliemeans actuated thereby, a linger piece connected with the control lever andoverhanging the record carrier for use in inanvually manipulating the contro-l lever,.a trip arm. anda cooperating detent member, one ot the said cooperating members being connected With the tonearm ivhile the other cooperating member is connected with the'control lever. Y

Ina graphoplione mechanism, the combination with az-record carrier, Va tone arm having a reproducer to traverse arrecord upon the said carrier, and a` stopping device l. Inagraphophone mech anism,'the comp forrtlie carrier, ot'a trip armmovablerivith the tone armv and adjustable relative thereto, and a detent inen'iber operatively connected with the stopping device and formedwitli a riding edge ivlii'ch is slidably engaged by. the trip arm and also with va notch in which theitrip armhas an accurate sliding tit` the trip arm being adapted to he set by placing it in the'notch and moving the tone arm in either Adirection until the reprodiicer is at the point on therecord Where it is desired to stop the play of the mechanism; Y

et. .Ina graphophone mechanism, the combination With afr'ecord carrier, a tone arm having a reprodncer'to traverse a recordI fill upon said carrier, a control lever for stopv ping the record carrier, a linger piece con nected` with the control lever tor manually manipulating the samel a trip arm and a cooperating detent member, one otsaid cooperating members being connected with the tone arm while the other cooperating member is connected with the control lever.

5. In a graphophone mechanism, the combination with a record carrier, a tone arm having a reproducer to traverse a record on the record carrier, a control lever, brake means actuated by the control lever, a finger piece carried by the control lever and eX- tending` over the record carrier adjacent the tone arm, so that it can be engaged by one oil the ngers of the hand by which the tone arm is grasped, a triparm and a cooperating detent member, one of the said coopera-tng members being connected with the tone arm while the other cooperating member is connected with the control lever. i

6. In a graphophone mechanism, the combination with a record carrier and a tone arm having areprodncer to traverse a record upon said carrier, of a control lever` brake means actuated by the control lever, a wingl rigid with one end of the control lever and provided with a notch ,and a riding edge leading to the notch, and a trip arm connected with the tonearm, said trip arm being adapted to slide over the riding edge ciE the detent member and to enter the notch to permit operation of the brake means by the control lever.

7. In a graphophone mechanism, the combination with a record carrier and a tone arm having a reproducer to traverse a record upon said carrier, of a control lever, a base plate upon which the control lever is pivotally mounted, a brake shoe carried by the control lever, an integral upstanding wing at the outer end oi the control lever, `said wing being transversely disposed with respect to the control lever, and being provided with a notch and a riding edge leading to the notch, and a trip arm connected with the tone arm so as to be movable therewith and adjustable with respect thereto, said trip arm being adapted to slide upon the riding edge ot the wing to hold the control lever in inoperative position during the playing` ot the record and to enter the notch and permit the control lever to apply the brake when the playing has reached the point where the device has been set to stop the mechanism.

8.` In a graphophone mechanism, the combination with a record carrier and a tone arm having a reproducer to traverse a record upon said carrier, a .base plate having upstanding pivotal ears, a control lever formed of a single piece of sheet material and having a comparatively wide intermediate portion which is pivotally mounted between the before mentioned ears oli' the base plate. one end ot' the control lever being reduced and returned, an integral upstanding and transversely disposed wing at the opposite end ol the control lever, a brake shoe carried by the returned end of the control lever, the upstanding wing being formed with a notch and a riding edge leading to the notch, and a trip arm connected with the tone arm so as to be movable therewith, said trip arm being adapted to slide over the riding edge oi the wing and to enter the notch to permit i the moven'ient oi the control lever into position to apply the brake.

9. l'n a graphophoue mechanism. the combination n'ith a record carrier and a tone arm having a reprodncer to traverse a record upon said carrier, ot a stopping device for the'carrier, a detent member connected with he slopj'iing device and formed with a notch and a riding edge. leading thereto, and a trip arm connected with the tone arm at one side thereof, so that it entends substantially parallel with the tone arm but is oil-set therefrom, said trip arm beingl adapted to slide upon the riding` edge of the detent member and to enter the notch to permit functioning ot the stopping device.

l0. In a graphophone mechanism, the combination with a record carrier and a tone arm having a rej'iroducer to traverse a record upon said carrier, oi a stopping device Jfor the carrier, a detent member connected with the stopping device, a bracketarm projecting from the tone arm, and a trip member carried by the bracket arm, one of said inembe-rs being returned to receive the other, and pivot means frictionally connecting the returned member with the other member.

11. ln a graphoplione mechanism, the combination with a record carrier and a tone arm having a reproduccr to traverse a record upon said carrier, oi a stopping device tor the carrier, a detent member connected with the stopping device, a bracket arm projecting from the tone arm, a trip arm carried by the bracket arm, one of said arms being resilient and being returned to receive the other arm, and a pivot member adjustable in the returned arm and cooperating with the resilient action thereof to produce a frictional connection between the arms.

12. ln a graphophone mechanism, the combination with a record carrier and a tono arm having a reproducer to traverse a record upon said carrier, of a stopping device for the carrier, a detent member connected with the stopping device, a bracket arm projecting from the tone arm, a trip arm carried by the bracket arm, one of said arms being resilient and being returned to receive the other arm, a screw adjustably threaded .in the returned arm, and a member interposed between the end of the screw and the other arm for cooperation with the screw to obtain a frictional pivotal connection between the arms.

13. In a graphophone mechanism, the combination with a record carrier and a tone arm having a reproducer to traverse a record upon said carrier, of a stopping device. for the carrier, aI detent member con-k nected with the stopping device and formed with a notch, and a riding edge leading to the notch, said notch having an enlarged inner portion and a contractedmoutli, and a trip arm connected with the tone arm and `coinlcination of a record carrier andtone Varm having a reproducer to traverse a record upon said carrier, of a control lever, an electric switch actuated by the control lever for stopping the record carrier, an uppstanding Wing rigid with the control lever mame? andormedwith ak notch and. arriding. edge leading to` the notch, and a. trip. armz con.- nectedJ with the tone arm and. adapted to slide over: the riding edge of the Wing and to enter the notchto permit movementlof the control lever switch.`

15. In a. graphoplionef mechanism, theV combination withl a record. carrier and a toneA arm. having; a reproducer tol traverse a record uponsaid carrier, oaifstopping device for tliecarrier, a detentV member connected with the stopping. device, a bracket arm projectingV from thetone arm, and.. al Y trip arm i having` a.- frictional. pivotal connection with the-bracket arm',-Wh'ereloy 1t can to actuate; the electricVV be swung intodifferentV adjustedA positions.

with respect tothe tone. arm, said trip arm beingmounted-in cooperative relation to the.

detent member.

In testimony whereof We aiiix our signatures.

CLIFFORD C. BROOKS. EDWINA 0: KLEMIVL. 

